Naperville may rehire 3 cops
A new police staffing plan expected to be presented to Naperville councilmen Tuesday, April 19, could bring back three more of the six officers laid off in November.
City Manager Doug Krieger and police Chief David Dial drafted a plan they say could save the city $320,000 annually by eliminating several unfilled positions.
The retirement incentive plan offered to sworn police employees in January resulted in the retirement of three commanders and one officer. Additionally, two officers have recently resigned to take jobs with other departments, leaving the department with a total of six sworn vacancies.
In mid-February, the city rehired the most senior of the laid off officers after a commander position was vacated by a retirement.
According to the proposal, the department would increase the maximum number of deputy chiefs from two to three, decrease the number of commander positions from eight to five, rehire three police officers from the layoff eligibility list and eliminate a communications supervisor.
A sergeant is expected to be promoted to commander and an officer to sergeant.
The plan is expected to save the city $320,000 annually, and factoring in the annual $851,000 savings from police layoffs last year, about $1 million less in fiscal year 2012 than 2011.
Mayor George Pradel said the council will weigh in on the plan Tuesday but may not vote on it immediately. Regardless of when the vote happens, Pradel said he expects it will be supported.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Pradel said of the staffing plan. “If we can get them back I’m all for that. I’d love to have the police department intact.”
Police union President Vince Clark said patrol officers are excited about the plan to bring back three more officers but hopes council members don’t stop there.
“Once this goes through, we’ll be pushing for more hires,” Clark said. “We still feel there is more room for growth at the officer level.”
The layoffs were announced in November, days after the council approved the pact that gave officers raises of 3.3 percent for 2009-10 and 3 percent in both 2010-11 and 2011-12. The deal also included a 50 percent increase in police personnel health insurance premium contributions, to 15 percent from 10 percent of the total premium cost.
Members of the union, which represents 137 Naperville officers, argued the subject of layoffs never came up during negotiations and the final contract agreement was based entirely on the city’s own offer. They have since been awarded a May 26 hearing before the Illinois Labor Relations Board.
Clark said the union is likely to pursue the Unfair Labor Practice suit, despite the hiring plan.
“I’m adamant about pursuing that suit because the city was wrong in the way those officers were let go,” he said. “Bringing them back doesn’t take away the wrongs done to them in November.”
City Manager Doug Krieger could not be reached Monday for comment.